Lodève

French commune
nomcommune=Lodève
région=Languedoc-Roussillon
département=Hérault
arrondissement=Lodève
canton=Lodève
insee=34142
cp=34700
gentilé=Lodèvois
maire=Bernadette Trani
mandat=2008-2014
intercomm=Lodévois
longitude=3.32027777778
latitude=43.7325
alt moy=165 m
alt mini=117
alt maxi=700 m
hectares=2317
km²=23.17
sans=6900
date-sans=1999
dens=297
date-dens=1999

Lodève (Occitan: Lodeva) is a commune in the Hérault departement in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Geography

Lodève lies where the plains rise up to the Larzac plateau, 54 km from Montpellier, in the valley of the Lergue river. It is surrounded by green hills and vineyards and lies only 8 km from the large man-made Lac du Salagou.

History

Lodève started as the capital of a Volque tribe (the Lutevani) before becoming the Roman city Luteva (also known as Forum Neronis). The town was a stopping point on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela via the Arles road. An episcopal city until the French Revolution, it was also a centre for textile production under Louis XV and was home to one of only two royal manufactories for tapestry, the other being the one of the Gobelins in Paris.

More recently, the area was the centre of a firm resistance against the Nazi occupation during the Second World War.

ights

* Lodève Cathedral "Cathédrale Saint-Fulcran de Lodève"), parts of which date from the 6th century.
* Museum Fleury (temporary art exhibitions (mainly paintings) and archeology permanent collection).
* Halle Dardé, dedicated to local sculptor Paul Dardé.

In the vicinity:
* Cave: Grotte de Labeil.
* Priory St Michel de Grandmont and its dolmen.
* Lerab Ling: Buddhist Temple in traditional Tibetan form.

Culture

Throughout the year, the town hosts a varied programme of festivities and events both cultural and athletic, as well as all sorts of markets which are always well worth a visit. In recent years, the Museum Art Gallery has gained national acclaim for its major art exhibitions.

One of the events that happens is the "Fête de St. Fulcran", the patron saint of the town. It happens every year for a week in May. For a week there is a carnival and other events.

Demographics

Lodève has a fairly large Algerian (see pied noir, harki) population, the first generation of which fought for the French and were housed here after the Algerian Civil War.

Transportation

The town lies on the A75 autoroute about 30 minutes south of the new Millau viaduct, the highest bridge in the world.

Miscellaneous

Lodève was the birthplace of:
* André-Hercule de Fleury (1653-1743) a cardinal who served as the chief minister of Louis XV
* Georges Auric (1899-1983), composer
* Paul Dardé (1888-1963), sculptor.
* Joseph Vallot, Alpinist the middleschool and the highschool are name after this alpinist who installed an observatory in the Alpes.

The town houses a famous carpet-manufacturing company, part of the national Savonnerie, which once supplied large, exquisite carpets to the French royal family, and still today produces hand made carpets for State buildings.

ee also

* Bishopric of Lodéve

ources

*
* [http://www.gcatholic.com/dioceses/diocese/montA.htm GigaCatholic]

External links

* [http://www.lodeve.com/ Tourist office website]